300 TDi auto - good or bad?

[gords]

How does a Discovery (300 TDi) cope / perform with an auto box? Is the gearbox generally a good - or bad - one? Is there much difference in performance (economy & speed) compared to a manual?

[Guardian.]

have driven several, but none off road so cannot comment on that, but on road they are just sluggish and frustrating.
they were always 300tdi's, td5 is hopefully muchbetter, or v8 good.

[Porny]

Hrmmm....

The 300tdi Auto is actually the most powerful 300tdi produced by Land Rover, but they are still slugish compared to a manual.

However, if a latter spec 300Tdi Auto then it will be ECU controlled and and a have a fly by wire throttle.
These can be easily chipped (i.e. remapped) and go reasonably well then... and they respond well to intercooler upgrades.

The earlier 300Tdi Auto's run a tweaked mechanical injector pump... again this can be 'adjusted' for more power and a better pick up, and a larger intercooler can be fitted.


Ian

[gords]

So, which would be best early mechanical or later ECU - in terms of standard performance and "tuneability"?

When/what year did the ECU version start?

[rommelsraider973]

I got an auto boxed 300TDi and its great!! The box has give me no problems since ownership(1 year now) Its on a 96 plate and the fly by wire throttle. Its spot on off roading , and at the end of the day its a 4x4 not a sports car , so pulling out of junctions etc will be a bit slower than normal!! Anyway , just floor it and you'd be suprised from the "kick-down" ......wouldn't swap mine for a manual!! No sir! :lol:

[karlo]

I got an auto boxed 300TDi and its great!! The box has give me no problems since ownership(1 year now) Its on a 96 plate and the fly by wire throttle. Its spot on off roading , and at the end of the day its a 4x4 not a sports car , so pulling out of junctions etc will be a bit slower than normal!! Anyway , just floor it and you'd be suprised from the "kick-down" ......wouldn't swap mine for a manual!! No sir! :lol:

"Ditto"

[muddyjames]

I got an auto boxed 300TDi and its great!! The box has give me no problems since ownership(1 year now) Its on a 96 plate and the fly by wire throttle. Its spot on off roading , and at the end of the day its a 4x4 not a sports car , so pulling out of junctions etc will be a bit slower than normal!! Anyway , just floor it and you'd be suprised from the "kick-down" ......wouldn't swap mine for a manual!! No sir! :lol:

"Ditto"

Ditto

Unpluging the egr (a 5 min job my mechanic did at the side of the road and only tool he needed was a pen (dont ask!!)) and it has made a massive improvement. Towing on motorways it is great, off roading is a dream with the auto box and in trafic jams your laughing!!! There is only 1 down side to an auto box with the 300tdi engine in and that is towing up hills. It doesnt like it very much. I reguarly tow 2 tonne box trailers and I find it easy to overtake lorries on motorways etc (except for the hills!)  Off roading is so much easier in an auto than a manual as you can change gear (select the max gear it can go in 1, 2, 3, or D ) and you dont loose power to the wheels so you just keep on plugging on through mud, water and up hills (to a limit). At the end of the day your left leg wont be aching from gear changing too. Another fab thing is if you are getting into somewhere you didnt really want to go like very muddy hole you can get a very quick gear change into reverse and get out of there fast. Saved me on a few occasions!

Would I swap to a manual now and go off roading???? Can you see any flying pigs???  :lol:

I dont think you would be disapointed with an auto as long as you blank of the egr. With the egr in it is close to dangerous when pulling out of side roads and roundabouts. My disco can pull away from a 200tdi 90 from a standing start. (not tested on roads of course. Found out on a private land old run runway.)

[mark300]

ive had six rrc and only 2 of them were manual, my disco is auto and love it,as they all say, they do pull off a bit slower and use a little extra fuel but thats about it. so much smoother and easier to drive on and off road, dont know about extreme stuff but never could fault them green laning or up toms farm etc.also nice when your stuck in traffic on m-way, not heard many people complain about faulty autos, but how many complain about crunchy manuals? its all personal preferance,and  i prefer the auto and the mrs prefers my disco to her 2001 focus ghia.

[Jake]

Gords
Are you coming back to 4x4 ownership then?
 :D

[karlo]

they do pull off a bit slower and use a little extra fuel but thats about it. so much smoother and easier to drive on and off road, dont know about extreme stuff but never could fault them green laning or up toms farm etc.also nice when your stuck in traffic on m-way, not heard many people complain about faulty autos, but how many complain about crunchy manuals? its all personal preferance.

I find you have to have a little gas on just before your going to pull out seems to get the torque converter ready, then stick your foot down and away you go, so easy to drive especially if you have back problems, mine does 26 to the gallon on BFG Muds.

[gords]

Are you coming back to 4x4 ownership then?

Well, I'm looking ... but it depends if I can find the right thing at the right price at the right time!

[beast5680]

my 98 300tdi is auto they are a different style of driving, you need to anticipate the traffic flow sometimes when pulling out into a flow of traffic but generally i find it very good

if you want to have a drive of it gordon just ask  :D

[hobbit]

My hybrid runs a 300tdi with auto box, no electronics, good fun and runs well

[Matbrown]

I got an auto boxed 300TDi and its great!! The box has give me no problems since ownership(1 year now) Its on a 96 plate and the fly by wire throttle. Its spot on off roading , and at the end of the day its a 4x4 not a sports car , so pulling out of junctions etc will be a bit slower than normal!! Anyway , just floor it and you'd be suprised from the "kick-down" ......wouldn't swap mine for a manual!! No sir! :lol:

"Ditto"

Ditto

Unpluging the egr (a 5 min job my mechanic did at the side of the road and only tool he needed was a pen (dont ask!!)) and it has made a massive improvement. Towing on motorways it is great, off roading is a dream with the auto box and in trafic jams your laughing!!! There is only 1 down side to an auto box with the 300tdi engine in and that is towing up hills. It doesnt like it very much. I reguarly tow 2 tonne box trailers and I find it easy to overtake lorries on motorways etc (except for the hills!)  Off roading is so much easier in an auto than a manual as you can change gear (select the max gear it can go in 1, 2, 3, or D ) and you dont loose power to the wheels so you just keep on plugging on through mud, water and up hills (to a limit). At the end of the day your left leg wont be aching from gear changing too. Another fab thing is if you are getting into somewhere you didnt really want to go like very muddy hole you can get a very quick gear change into reverse and get out of there fast. Saved me on a few occasions!

Would I swap to a manual now and go off roading???? Can you see any flying pigs???  :lol:

I dont think you would be disapointed with an auto as long as you blank of the egr. With the egr in it is close to dangerous when pulling out of side roads and roundabouts. My disco can pull away from a 200tdi 90 from a standing start. (not tested on roads of course. Found out on a private land old run runway.)

Does blanking the EGR effect economy at all?



Mat.

[muddyjames]

I get about 1-2mpg less but the loss is more than worth it for the extra little boost you get and especially when towing on motorways it makes a HUGE difference

[Timi]

Are you coming back to 4x4 ownership then?

Well, I'm looking ... but it depends if I can find the right thing at the right price at the right time!

Gords
Nice to hear you took notice of my posts on P38a's
better to get newer or better looked after version of your old beast, least you know what to look for.

Timi 8)

[karlo]

Does blanking the EGR effect economy at all?



Mat.

Not noticed any change on mine?

[Matbrown]

Does blanking the EGR effect economy at all?



Mat.

Not noticed any change on mine?

Ok, next question, how do i do it?  



Mat.

[gords]

Ok, next question, how do i do it?  

This post here should give you the info!

[Bush Tucker Man]

Before I bought my (now departed) Discovery, I borrowed a 'M' plated Tdi auto belonging to one of our Sisters.
To say I was underwhelmed by the delay/lag between pushing the accelerator pedal and movement beginning was to understate myself.

I could imagine the scenario of trying to join a busy road and nothing happening.


So, I ended up with a manual, although I still wish I'd held my ground & gone for a late Range Rover 'Classic' (a 'soft-dash' Tdi manual)

[chaosego]

i have n- reg auto its great a  bit (oh dear) when pulling out but hey the other cars have brakes and should not be going so fast...lol.
it must be mechanical throttle type quite stiff.
i just bought a p-reg jap import ,now sold to my dad, i thought it must have been fly by wire throttle this forum comfirmed it for me. been driving all over in it its a lot faster in all aspects compared to mine.loved it but i have spent money on mine and would not get it back on resale so the jap had to go ,probably regret in future as it is very usable and a shame to get the grinder to the arches and things.
go for auto, had probs with rrc gear box grinding giving me rsi in my left shoulder and the clutch jesus in trafic ache is not the word, auto very relaxing and so easy to drive ,bob on !cheers glyn.

[muddyjames]

As I said in my post earlier, you dont need to remove the egr, just disconnect the vacuum and the electrocs to it as then it wont open up and allow the exhaust gasses through it. 110defender will know (i think that is his user name (look under my topic asking about winches. He replied to that thread (too lazy to look it up!))) however he did it at the side of the road and all it involved was a pen to do something. No plates or spanners needed.

[PSG38]

just a quick question , i was also thinking bout 300tdi auto ( about n or p reg ) does anyone know what sort of money the gearbox would be to replace if it blew . either second hand or recon . its just i had bad experience with a car that cost me 1600 for auto box recon last year

[chaosego]

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/category_3.html



these are the boys to use for this sort of problem ,but i would not worry too much about blowing one up i think you will need to be very unlucky. cheers glyn.

[Tyke]

Get real guys . . . . . . . The only way to drive is with a manual transmision . . . . . anything else is just 'cheating' . . . .  :lol:  :lol: